Hinge for a tonneau cover

ABSTRACT

A hinge assembly pivotally attaching a tonneau cover panel to a cargo bed of a motor vehicle. The hinge assembly includes a attachment bracket fixedly secured to the cargo bed of the motor vehicle. The attachment bracket defines a slot extending between a closed end and an open end, and the slot includes a pocket disposed adjacent the open end. The hinge assembly also includes a panel bracket fixedly secured to the tonneau cover panel. The panel bracket includes a base and a distal and defining an end aperture. The end aperture is alignable with the slot. In addition, the hinge assembly includes an attachment pin extending through the end aperture and received within the slot for movably securing the panel bracket with the attachment bracket. The movement of the panel bracket between the closed end and the open end moves the tonneau cover panel between a closed and a partially open position, and the movement of the attachment pin from the open end into the pocket allows pivotal movement of the tonneau cover panel from the partially open position to a fully open position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a tonneau cover for a pickup truck. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a hinge assembly for attaching atonneau cover panel to a cargo bed of a pickup truck.

2. Description of Related Art

Tonneau covers have become a popular add-on option for pickup trucks.The tonneau cover overlies a pickup truck cargo bed, which extendsbetween a passenger compartment and a rear tailgate. The tonneau coverprovides a covered storage area in the cargo bed. Because items storedunderneath the tonneau cover are not easily accessible to personsoutside of the pickup truck, these items are less susceptible to theft.In addition, the tonneau cover may be locked against the cargo bed toprovide further protection from theft. As an added benefit, the tonneaucover improves vehicle aerodynamics.

Tonneau cover panels are heavy and large, especially when designed as asingle panel to cover an entire cargo bed. This size requirement for thetonneau covers can make them unwieldy and difficult to manipulate,making lifting of the tonneau cover to access the cargo bed a difficulttask.

Tonneau covers having multiple panels provide easier access to the cargobed. Thus, when access to a portion of the cargo bed is desired, onlyone of the multiple panels must be manipulated, which is a much easiertask than moving a single large panel. Such multi-panel tonneau coverscan be in the form of multiple panels extending longitudinally from thefront of the cargo bed to the back of the cargo, i.e., from thepassenger compartment to the rear tailgate. Alternatively, the multiplepanels may extend laterally. These multi-panel tonneau coverarrangements that allow one panel to be removed while another remainssecured to the pickup truck, or that allow all of the panels to beremoved, gives pickup truck operators a great deal of flexibility inadapting the cargo bed to fit their current needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hingeassembly for pivotally attaching a tonneau cover panel to a cargo bed ofa motor vehicle. The hinge assembly includes an attachment bracketfixedly secured to the cargo bed of the motor vehicle. The attachmentbracket defines a slot extending between a closed end and an open end.The slot includes a pocket disposed adjacent the open end. The hingeassembly also includes a panel bracket fixedly secured to the tonneaucover panel. The panel bracket includes a base and a distal end definingan end aperture. The end aperture is alignable with the slot. Inaddition, the panel bracket includes an attachment pin extending throughthe end aperture and received within the slot for movably securing thepanel bracket with the attachment bracket. The movement of the panelbracket between the closed end and the open end moves the tonneau coverpanel between a closed and a partially open position. And the movementof the attachment pin from the open end into the pocket allows pivotalmovement of the tonneau cover panel from the partially open position toa fully open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a pickup truck and a tonneau coverin a closed position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention and arear edge of a first panel of the tonneau cover;

FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention and a secondpanel of the tonneau cover in a fully open position over the firstpanel;

FIG. 5 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention and the secondpanel in a closed position; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention and the secondpanel moving in a partially open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a pickup truck 10 includes a cargo bed 12 and apassenger compartment 14. The cargo bed 12 includes two opposed andgenerally parallel sidewalls 18, 20 extending between a forward wall 22,disposed adjacent the passenger compartment 14 and a rear tailgate 24.

A tonneau cover assembly, generally shown at 26, includes a first panel28 and a second panel 30. The tonneau cover assembly 26 covers the cargobed 12 making the pickup truck 10 more aerodynamic while the itemsstored therewithin are not visible to individuals outside of the pickuptruck 10. In the embodiment shown, the first panel 28 covers a frontportion 29 of the cargo bed 12, and extends between two sides 32, 34adjacent the sidewalls 18, 20. The first panel 28 also extends between afront edge 36 adjacent the passenger compartment 14 and a rear edge 38.

The second panel 30 covers a rear portion 31 of the cargo bed 12 andextends laterally between two sides 40, 42 adjacent the sidewalls 18,20. The second panel 30 also extends between a front edge 44, disposedadjacent the rear edge 38 of the first panel 28, and a rear edge 46disposed adjacent the rear tailgate 24. It should be appreciated thatthe tonneau cover assembly 26 may include two or more panels positionedlaterally or longitudinally between the sidewalls 18, 20 of the cargobed 12, as disclosed in applicant's co-pending U.S. application Ser. No.60/225,935, filed Aug. 17, 2000.

Referring to FIG. 2, a hinge assembly, generally indicated at 48, allowsfor upward and pivotal movement of the second panel 30 relative to thecargo bed 12. The hinge assembly 48 includes a panel bracket 50, whichincludes a locking tab 52. The second panel 30 defines a plurality ofslits 55 for selectively receiving the locking tab 52 therein wherebythe second panel 30 is locked to the panel bracket 50. Thus, the secondpanel 30 is removably secured to the panel bracket 50. The panel bracket50 includes a base 56 and a distal end 58 defining an end aperture 60.The panel bracket 50 also includes a widening surface 62 between thebase 56 and the distal end 58. A pivot aperture 64 is disposed adjacentthe base 56. A pivot pin 63 extends through the pivot aperture 64 and apanel aperture 65 of the second panel 30 to define a pivot axis aboutwhich the second panel 30 pivots with respect to the panel bracket 50.

The hinge assembly 48 also includes an attachment bracket 66 fixedlysecured to each of the sidewalls 18, 20 (only one shown in FIG. 2). Theattachment bracket 66 defines a plurality of bracket apertures 67 thatare aligned with a plurality of sidewall apertures 69 defined by thesidewalls 18, 20. Securing devices 71, such as bolts, screws, rivets andthe like, extend through the apertures 67, 69 to secure the attachmentbracket 66 to the sidewalls 18, 20.

The attachment bracket 66 defines a slot 68 extending between a closedend 70 and an open end 72. The attachment bracket 66 also includes apocket 74 that is disposed adjacent and is open to the open end 72 ofthe slot 68.

The hinge assembly 48 further includes an attachment pin 76 extendingthrough the end aperture 60 and received within the slot 68 for definingthe pivotal relationship between the panel bracket 50, and with it thesecond panel 30, and the attachment bracket 66. The attachment pin 76 isbiased toward the attachment bracket 66 by a coil spring 81, which isheld in place by a perch 83 for removable engagement with the slot 68.The attachment pin 76 defines a smooth end 77 and a threaded end 78opposite to the smooth end 77. The smooth end 77 of the attachment pin76 slides within the slot 68 between the closed end 70 and the open end72, and into the pocket 74. The threaded end 78 threadingly engages arelease knob 80, which is pulled to release the panel bracket 50 fromthe attachment bracket 66. It should be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that pocket 74 does not have to be in communication with theslot 68 because the attachment pin 76 can be manually removed from theslot 68 and subsequently inserted into the pocket 74.

The movement of the attachment pin 76 within the slot 68 moves thesecond panel 30 between a closed position, as shown in FIG. 5, and apartially open position, as shown in FIG. 6. The movement of the secondpanel 30 is a translation to and away from the closed position. When theattachment pin 76 is positioned in the closed end 70 of the slot 68, thesecond panel 30 is in the closed position. Upon manually lifting therearward panel 30 at the rear edge 46 thereof, the attachment pin 76moves upwardly within the slot 68 toward the open end 72. The upwardmovement of the attachment pin 76 within the slot 68 elevates the panelbracket 50 and the second panel 30. When the attachment pin 76 reachesthe open end 72, the rearward panel 30 is held in the partially openposition.

To pivotally move the rearward panel 30 about its pivot axis from thepartially open position to the fully open position shown in FIG. 4 (thepivoting of which is shown in phantom in FIG. 6), the second panel 30 isfirst forced upwards to urge the attachment pin 76 from the open end 72into the pocket 74. The pocket 74 defines a lower pinched portion 75 forlocking the attachment pin 76 therewithin. Once the attachment pin 76 islocked inside the pocket 74, the attachment pin 76 will notinadvertently slide back down the slot 68 towards the closed end 70during pivoting of the second panel 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, the attachment bracket 66 includes a protrusion 84defining a channel 86. The channel 86 extends between a locking end 88and a channel opening 90. The channel 86 receives a guide pin 94 that isfixedly secured to the first panel 28 through a tab aperture 93 that isdefined by a tab 92 extending out from the first panel 28. In thepreferred embodiment, the first panel 28 includes a plurality of tabs 92and tab apertures 93.

The guide pin 94 is movable between the locking end 88 and the channelopening 90. An aperture 96 extends from the channel 86 further into theprotrusion 84. The aperture 96 receives a locking pin 98 that, when inplace, prevents the guide pin 94 from moving therepast toward thechannel opening 90. The locking pin 98 defines an aperture end 100,which slidingly engages the aperture 96, and a pull end 102. A pull knob104 (shown in FIG. 6) may be secured to the locking pin 98 for releasingthe locking pin 98 from the aperture 96 to allow the guide pin 94 tomove to the channel opening 90.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first panel 28 includes a plurality of bayonettabs 106 extending out from a front edge 36 thereof. The plurality ofbayonet tabs 106 may be either fixedly secured to the first panel 28 ormolded thereon. The forward wall 22 of the cargo bed 12 defines aplurality of openings 108 therealong. The plurality of bayonet tabs 106are aligned with and then inserted into the plurality of openings 108 toremovably secure the first panel 28 to the cargo bed 12.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the second panel 30 includes a lock system110 positioned along the rear edge 46 thereof. The lock system 110 locksthe second panel 30 in the closed position against the movable reartailgate 24. When the second panel 30 is locked in the closed position,the first panel 28 cannot be removed because the presence of the secondpanel 30 in the closed position prevents the initial rear slidingmovement of the guide pin 94 from the locking end 88 towards the channelopening 90. Thus, the lock system 110 locks both the first 28 and second30 panels to the cargo bed 12.

The second panel 30 additionally includes a latch 112 mounted to anunderside 114 thereof. The sidewalls 18, 20 define a plurality of latchapertures (not shown) that align with the latch 112 when the secondpanel 30 is in the fully open position. When the second panel 30 is inthe fully open position, the latch 112 extends outwards and engages oneof the plurality of latch apertures to hold the second panel 30 in itsfully open position above the first panel 28. And when the second panel30 is not in its fully open position, the latch 112 retracts to anon-use position.

In operation, starting with the first 28 and second 30 panels coveringthe cargo bed 12, the lock system 104 of the second panel 30 isunlocked. The rear edge 46 of the second panel 30 is pushed upwardly andslightly inwardly, toward the passenger compartment 14, to move theattachment pin 76 out of the closed end 70 of the slot 68 and into theslot 68. The second panel 30 is lifted upwards away from the cargo bed12. This lifting movement causes the attachment pin 76 to move upwardswithin the slot 68 towards the open end 72. At the same time, the panelbracket 50 moves with the second panel 30 away from the cargo bed 12.The attachment pin 76 moves upwards within the slot 68 until theattachment pin 76 reaches the open end 72. At this time, the secondpanel 30 is in the partially open position (shown in FIG. 6), and partof a rear portion 31 of the cargo bed 12 is accessible for storing orremoving items.

With the second panel 30 in the partially open position, the first panel28 may either be pivoted open to provide access to the front portion 29of the cargo bed 12, or the first panel 28 may be removed from the cargobed 12 to provide an uncovered storage area in the rear portion 29 ofthe cargo bed 12.

The second panel 30 may further be lifted upward forcing the attachmentpin 76 to move into the pocket 74. The attachment pin 76 is held insidethe pocket 74 by the lower pinched portion 75. As the second panel 30 islifted further, the second panel 30 disengages from the locking tab 52and begins to pivot about the pivot axis. The second panel 30 pivotallymoves into the substantially open position (shown in phantom in FIG. 6.)The second panel 30 can then be further pivoted to a fully openposition, shown in FIG. 4, adjacent the first panel 28 after theoperator of the tonneau cover assembly 26 forces the locking tabs 52 outof the slits 55, thus allowing the second panel 30 to move in relationto the panel bracket 50. The second panel 30 is secured in the fullyopen position by sliding the latch 112 into one of the plurality oflatch apertures along the sidewalls 18, 20.

The hinge assembly 48 also provides for the removal of the first 28and/or second 30 panel from the pickup truck 10. Again, starting withthe first 28 and second 30 panels covering the cargo bed 12, as seen inFIG. 1, the lock system 104 of the second panel 30 is unlocked. Thesecond panel 30 is moved into the partially open position. The releaseknob 80, as shown in FIG. 2, is pulled away from the attachment bracket66 to release the attachment pin 76 from within the slot 68, thusreleasing the second panel 30, with the panel bracket 50 attachedthereto, from the attachment bracket 66 allowing removal thereof fromthe cargo bed 12.

The first panel 28 may be removed when the second panel 30 is minimallyin the partially open position. More specifically, the first panel 28may be removed when the second panel 30 is in any position other thanthe closed position, including when the second panel 30 is removed fromthe cargo bed 12. To remove the first panel 28, the locking pin 98 ispulled out of the aperture 96 to allow the guide pin 94 to slide in thechannel 86 past the aperture 96 toward the channel opening 90. When theguide pin 94 reaches the channel opening 90, the first panel 28 may belifted away from the attachment bracket 66 and removed from the cargobed 12. Thus, both the first 28 and second 30 panels are removable fromthe cargo bed 12, either separately or at the same time, to allow accessto the front portion 29 and/or the rear portion 31 of the cargo bed 12.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to beunderstood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Manymodifications and variations of the invention are possible in light ofthe above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims,the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

1. A hinge assembly for pivotally attaching a panel to a cargo bed of amotor vehicle, said hinge assembly comprising: an attachment bracketfixedly secured to the cargo bed of the motor vehicle, said attachmentbracket defining a slot extending between a closed end and an open end,said attachment bracket including a pocket disposed adjacent said openend; a panel bracket fixedly secured to the panel, said panel bracketincluding a base and a distal end defining an end aperture, said endaperture alignable with said slot; and an attachment pin extendingthrough said end aperture and received within said slot for movablysecuring said panel bracket with said attachment bracket such thatmovement of said panel bracket between said closed end and said open endmoves the panel between a closed position and a partially open position,and movement of said attachment pin from said open end into said pocketallows pivotal movement of the panel from the partially open position toa fully open position.
 2. A hinge assembly as set forth in claim 1wherein said panel bracket includes a pivot aperture disposed adjacentsaid base end.
 3. A hinge assembly as set forth in claim 2 including apivot pin extending through said pivot aperture and the panel defining apivot axis about which the panel pivots.
 4. A hinge assembly as setforth in claim 3 wherein said panel bracket includes a locking tab forremovably securing the panel thereto.
 5. A hinge assembly as set forthin claim 4 wherein said pocket defines an inwardly protruding bottomportion for selectively locking said attachment pin therewithin.
 6. Ahinge assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said attachment pinincludes a threaded end.
 7. A hinge assembly as set forth in claim 6including a release knob threadedly engaging said threaded end of saidattachment pin.